Sewing-machine



W. C. MEYER.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6. I918.

l,391,398.- PatentedSept. 20,1921.

7,; SHEFTSSHET l.

[we/110 v Ww if M AL W. C. MEYER.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.6, 191s.

Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEEI 2- [lave/250k I? e, p

w. c. MEYER.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, 191a.

1,391,398. PatentedSept. 20,1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- UNITEDSTATES PATENT, OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. M Y R, or BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIGN R ro NITED snon MACHINERY CORPORATION, O rA'rR sON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

Original application filed May T0 all'whomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. MEYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertain's to make and use the same.

This invention relates to sewing machines and, more particularly, to thread tension devices for such machines. p

The invention constitutes an improvement in tension devicesof the type comprising a tension wheel about which the thread passes,

the rotation of the tens'ion'wheel'. The invention is designed particularly as an im-.

secured without attention on the part of the operator regardless of wear onthejparts of said mechanism.

With this object in view, the inventor contemplates as-a feature'of-the invention the provision of mechanism for producing automatically a relative adjustment of certain,

of the parts of the brake mechanism to compensate for wear on the parts.

Other features of the invention consistin certain novel and improved constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the advantages of which will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

and a friction brake for retarding SEWING-MACHINE. v

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented SeIjhQO, 1921,

6,1916, Serial No. 95,893. Divided and this application filed September 6, 1918. Serial No. 252,969.

The invention will be readily understood from the accompanying drawings illustrating the 1nvent1on in its preferred form, and

the following detailed description of the constructions therein shown.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an inseam shoe sewing machine embodying the invention'looking from the left side of the machine; Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the machine looking from the right; Fig. 3 is a detail view in side elevation illustrating the tension devices; Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view takenflsubstantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 I.

is a detail. view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating certain parts ofthe tension mechanism; Fig. 7 is a detail view illustrating certain parts of the ten sion mechanism; and Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating certain parts ofthe mechanism shown in Fig. 7

The machine illustrated in the drawings is a welt shoe sewing machine constructed and arranged for sewing the welt and upper totlie insole of a lasted shoe. The machine is provided with a curved hook needle2, a cui'ved'awl 4, a thread arm 6, a looper 8, a take-up 10, an auxiliary take-up 12 and a welt guide 14. All these and other operating parts of themachine are actuated from a main shaft 15. To this shaft is applied a stopping mechanism which operates upon the disconnection of the main shaft from the main driving mechanism, first to arrest the forward rotation of the shaft, then to impart a reverse rotation thereto, and finally to bringitlie shaft to rest in a predetermined position. All of the parts of the present machine briefly described above have the same construction, arrangement and mode of operation as the corresponding parts of the machine illustrated and described in applicants co-pending application, No. 95,893, filed May 6, 1916, of which the present application constitutes a division, and reference may be had to said application for a full and complete description of the same.

The machine is also provided with a tensupply to-the work. The disk is provided sion governor by which the tension on the thread is automatically varied with any change in the speed of the machine, with locking mechanism for locking the tension wheel from rotation during the stitch setting stroke of the take-up, and with tension release mechanism for relieving the thread of tension upon stopping the machine. The

tension mechanism has the same general constructionand mode of operation as the tension mechanism disclosed in the patent granted to the present applicant, No. 1,160,- 936, dated November 16,1915, except that there is no variation in the tension produced during each cycle of operations.

The tension devices of the machine illus trated comprise a tension disk 16 around which the thread. passes on its way from the with peripheral projections extending alternately in opposite directions from the 'disk, and being formed at an inclination to the radial lines of the disk to cause the thread to be drawn down to the base of the projections and to enable the thread to free itself readily from the disk. To cause the thread to be drawn down into the passagewayformed by the projections on the disk 16, an auxiliary tension wheel 18 is provided, this wheel being mounted at the rear of the machine, as shown in Fig. 2. The

' tension disk 16, under the auxiliary take-up 12, over the main take-up 10 and through the eye of the looper 8.to the work. The resistance exerted by the auxiliary tension wheel 18*to the forward movement of the thread causes the thread to engage the tension wheel 16 "tightly as soon as any strain is exerted upon the thread between the tension wheel 16 andthe work, so that the thread is at once prevented from slipping around the. tension disk 16 and'the stitches at the beginning of the seam are sewn under full tension strain. e

The tension disk 16 is rigidly secured to oneend of a short hollow shaft 32 mounted to turn in a bearing in a bushing or sleeve 34 secured in the frame. To the opposite end ofthe shaft 32 is rigidly secured a brake drum 36. Arranged to bear on the periphery of the brake drum are two brake shoes 38 and 40 having linings of felt indicated at 42 contacting with the exterior surface of the drum. The lower brake shoe 40 is pivblock below the roll, and acts to force the 'roll against theflat'surface of the rod 58 to spring 52 coiled about the stud and having its ends bearing respectively on the brake shoes, as shown in Fig; 3. The brake shoes are forced into engagementwith" the periphcry of the brake drum by the downward pressure of a lever 54 pivoted at 56 to the frame and having a clutch connection with the upper brake shoe.

at 60 with one end of the upper brake shoe,

and extending upwardly .through an aperture in a block 62 mounted on trunnion pins This clutch connec tion comprises a rod 58 pivotally connected 64 in an opening in the lever 54. A cliitc'h' roll 66 is mounted in theblock, 62 betweena fiat surfaceformed on the rod-58and a rela tively inclined surface formed in the block -A coiled spring ,68 is mounted; in the clutch the rod tojthe block 62. NVhen'downward pressure is exerted on the lever 54, the

block 62 is clutched to the rod 58, and the pressure is transmitted through thelrod to the brake shoes. The le'ver 54'is lifted to" release the tension upon the reversal of the direction of rotation of the cam shaft .as the machine is stopped, and in order. to insure the disengagement of the clutch roll 66 from clutching engagement with therod-58 when this occurs, a rod 70 is 'adjus'tably mounted in the frame in aposition such that its lowerend will enga e the clutch: roll 66 when the lever 54 is 1i ted. The rod 7 0 is threaded into the frame, and is provided at its upper end with a milled disk -72 by which it may be turned to adjust its'lower' end. With this clutch-connection between the lever 54 and the brake shoe88,'the pres sure delivered from the lever 54 through the rod 58 to the br'ake shoes will be unchanged by variations in the position of the upper brake shoe, resulting from the wearing away of the brake shoe liningsor'from any; other cause. The lever 54is engagedby an abutment-74 carried by a, slide 76 mounted to slide longitudinally in a lever 78 pivoted.

at 80. This slide is provided with-rack teeth meshing with the teeth of a segment formed on a hand lever 82 pivoted at 84 on the lever 78, the hand lever being provided with. a spring-pressed pin 86 arranged to engage the teeth of 'a segment 88 to'hold the lever in adjusted position. The lever 7 8 is pressed upon by a spring-pressedpin 90 having its lower end engaging the lever, and acted upon by 'acoiled spring 92 coiled about the pin and engagingxat its respective ends a collar on the pin and the lower end of an abutment sleeve: 94 mounted in the for wardly extending arm ofa lever 96through a which sleeve the pin 90 passes. The lever 96 is pivoted at'98, and has its rear end acted upon by a governor mechanism which acts through the lever to vary the pressure of the pin on the lever 78 as the speed of the machine varies. V This governor mechanism (see Fig. 6) comprises weights 100 mounted on levers 102 pivoted at. 104 on a rotary sleeve 106, the upper inturned ends of-which levers are arranged to engage a collar or flange formed on a slide 108 mounted to slide longitudinally on the upper end of a shaft 110, and having an upwardly projecting pin 112 formed thereon which engages the under side of the rear end of the lever- 96. The slide 108 is engaged by a coiled spring113 interposed between a collar on the slide and an adjustable. collar threaded upon the shaft 110. The

shaft is mounted to turn in suitable bearings in the frame ofv the machine, and carries at its lower end abeveledgear 114 meshin with a beveled gear 116 mounted on the mam shaft 15 of the machine. The

sleeve 106 is mounted on the shaft 110 and secured to rotate with the shaft by means of a pin 118. During the operation of the machine the sleeve 106 is rapidly rotated,

through its connection with the main shaft of the machine, and the weights 100 are swung outwardly from .theaxis of the sleeve, causing the inturned ends of the levers 102 to depress the slide 108 to an extent varying with the speed of the machine. The variations in the positions of the slide 108 cause variations inthepressure with which the pin 90 engages the lever 78, and

thisresults in variations in the tension applied to the thread, the tension on the thread increasing as the speed of the machine decreases, and decreasing as the speed of the machine increases.

The means for locking the tension disk from rotation whenthe take-up reaches the limit of its loop-drawing stroke, so as to prevent overthrow of the tension at the end of the pulling-off operation, in the construction illustrated comprises a brake band 120 surrounding the brake drum 36. One end of the brake band is pivoted at 122 to the frame of the machine, and the other end 1s formed with a socket 124 in which engagesthe lower end of a rod 126. This rod passes at its upper end through a sleeve 128 (see Fig. 1) mounted in a block 130 pivoted to .the forward'end of an arm 132. A spring ed by the engagement of the stop nut 136 threaded on the upper end of the rod with the upper end of the sleeve 128. Upon the returnmovement of the arm 132 from tension locking position the movement of the sleeve after it engages the stop nut lifts the rod from engagementwith they lower end of the socket in the brake band, allowing the brake band to free itself from the brake drum. The arm 132 is fast upon a rock shaft 140 upon which is mounted a second arm 142 arranged to be engaged by the arm 144 of the take-up actuating cam'lever 145.

in the direction of rotation of the cam shaft. 'Thisarm is pivotally connected to the arm 147 of a lever 148 pivoted at. 150 on the machine frame, This lever is provided with a second arm 152 (see Fig. 3) having a socket in which engages the lower end of a rod 154 which has its upper end engaged in a socket in the rear end of the lever 54. d An adjustable abutment screw 156 is threaded into the arm 152 to engage the lower end of the rod. The lever 148 is provided with a third arm 158 (see Figs. 1 and 3) connected by a link 180 with an arm 162 fixed to one end of the rock shaft 164. Fixed to the opposite end of this rock shaft (see Fig. 2) is a. bell crank lever. 166, through the upper arm of which passes a rod 168, the rod having a collar or head at its lower end which engages the upper arm of the bell crank. This rod passes at its upper end through the horizontal arm of a second bell crank 172 pivoted at- 174 on the frame, and a stop nut 176 is threaded on the rod to engage the upper side of the arm. The forked upper end ofthe upper arm of thelatter bell crank embraces the sleeve 22 and carries threaded pins 17 8 engagingin grooves formed in the sleeve. -When the arm 147 of the lever 148 is swung forwardly by the movement of thearm 146 upon the reversal of the direction of rotation of the cam shaft, the lever 54, through the engagement of the rod 154 therewith, is lifted to-relieve the pressure of member through which pressure is applied"- lieve the pressure of the washer 20 on the hub of the tension wheel;

Having explained the nature and object of the invention, and having specifically described the invention in its preferred form,

what is claimed is:

1. A tension device forsewing machines,

having, in combination, atension wheel, a brake forthe tension wheel, a brake actuating spring, operative connections between" the sprlng'and the brake, and means for automatically adjusting relatively certain of said connections to cause the spring to act with a pressure which is uniform for any given speed of the machine regardless of wear on the parts of the brake.

2. A tension device for sewing machines having, in combination, a tension wheel, a

brake acting on the tension wheel, a member arranged to apply" tension pressure 'to' the brake.-

'3. A tension device for sewing machines, having, in COIIlbHlfLtlOII, a tension wheel, a brake acting on the tension wheel, a movable to the brake, means for applying tension pressure tosaid member which is uniform for any given speed of the machine, a variable connection between said'movable memberand the brake, and means for automatically adjusting the parts of said connection to compensate for wear and thereby secure a correspondingly uniform brakingaction of the brake.

4. A tension device for sewing'machines, having, in combination, a tension wheel, a brake acting on the tension wheel, a movable member through which pressure is applied to the brake, means for applying tension pressure to said member which is uniform for any given speed of the machine, a clutch connection between said member and the brake, and means for automatically adjusting the parts of said clutch connection to compensate for'wear and thereby secure a correspondingly uniform braking action of the brake.

5. A tension device for sewing machines, having, in combination, a tension wheel, a brake for the tension wheel comprising a brake shoe, a rod connected with the brake shoe, a movable member through which pressure is applied to the brake shoe, means for moving said member to release and apply the brake, a clutch connection between the rod and said member, and clutch controlling of said member.

'brakedrum,pivotally connected brake shoes means tocause the clutch -to' clutch the rod always at the same point in the movement 6. A tension device for sewing machines, having, in combination, a-tensionwheel, a brake for-the tension wheel comprising a 1 brake shoe, a' rod connected with the brake shoe, a movablemember through which pressure is applied to the brake shoe, means for moving said member to release the brake upon stopping themachine, and to apply the brake upon starting the' ma-V chine, a clutch connection between the rod and said member, and clutch controlling means for causing the clutch to. clutch the; rod always at the same point in the'move ment ofsaid'member. 1 I

7. A tension device for sewing machines, having, in'combination, a tension wheel, a'

arranged to eng'age'the brake drum, a rod connected with one ofsaid shoes, a lever by which pressure is" applied throughthe "rod to the brake shoes, means for actuating the lever to relieve the pressure of the brake shoes on the drum and to apply braking pressure tothe drum, a roll clutch connection between the lever and the rod, and clutch controlling means to cause the clutch to clutch the rod always at the same point in the movement of the-lever. I

8. A tension device for sewingmachines, having, in combination, a tension wheel, a brake for the tension whee1,a governor opcrating during'the operation of the machine to produce variations in the action of the brake to varythe tension on the thread when the speed of the machine varies, a variable 7 connection betweenthe governor and the brake, and means for automatically 'adjusting the parts of said connection to compensate for wear. 7 I

92A tension device'for sewing machines, having, in combinationa tensionwheel, a

brake for the tension wheel, a spring acting on the brake, an abutment for the spring, a governoroperating during the operation of themachine'to move said abutment to vary the tension of'the spring whenythe speed of the machine varies, a variable con-' nection between the sprin and the brake, and means for automatica ly adjusting the parts of'said connection to compensate for wear. 1

10. A'tension device for sewing machines, 12 0 having, 111 combination, a tenslon Wheel, a I

brake for the tensionwheel, means for ap plying pressure tothe brake comprising a lever, a spring acting on the lever, a movable member, an abutment carried by the lever arranged to bear on said member and adjustable longitudinally of the lever to vary the tension on the thread, a-variablef connection between said member and the brake, means for automatically adjusting the parts of said connection to compensate for wear.

11. A tension device for sewing machines, having, in combination, a tension wheel, a 5 brake for the tension Wheel, means for applying pressure to the brake comprising a movable member, means exerting pressure on said member in one direction to apply braking pressure to the brake, means for moving said member from and toward brakepressing position, and a clutch connection between said member and the brake arranged to be automatically adjusted to compensate for wear by the movement of said member.

WILLIAM C. MEYER. 

